Castor Oil for Dry Eyes Relieved One Woman’s Discomfort When Nothing Else Worked
Bonus: The natural oil can also thicken your lashes, too
For more than two years, Sophia Pailov struggled with constant eye dryness, blurry vision and daily discomfort that interfered with her work and wellbeing. Standard treatments offered little relief, and her symptoms left her exhausted and frustrated. But a chance discovery during a late-night internet search led her to a surprising solution: castor oil for dry eyes. The natural remedy quickly eased her symptoms. And now, it’s a staple part of her nightly routine.
A desperate search for relief from dry eye
Removing the warm washcloths from her tired eyes, Sophia Pailov, 53, squinted at the clock through a blurry haze. Lying flat to rest her eyes for 30 minutes several times daily had continuously disrupted her work as a publicist and keto health coach.
“I can’t keep doing this,” she thought, forcing herself to rest despite many tasks still needing to be completed. It had been two years since Sophia’s second battle with COVID-19. After recovering from the illness, she noticed her eyes had become consistently dry and red. During the day, she had to constantly press on her eyelids to relieve the pressure and painful swelling.
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Her doctor tested her for underlying autoimmune conditions that trigger dry eye and vision problems, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Sjögren’s syndrome—and each test came back negative. He suggested that she try warm compresses, resting her eyes and over-the-counter eye drops, which offered only temporary relief.
But her blurry vision worsened, especially after working on the computer all day, and sometimes, it kept her from seeing well enough to drive. “There has to be a fix,” Sophia despaired, realizing that what she had thought to be a temporary COVID-19 side effect might be permanent.
A natural remedy she never considered
In 2023, Sophia was doing her usual online research for health and wellness clients and decided to do a quick search for herself. She began to look for natural ways to ease dry eye symptoms. She found this common eye condition affects 20 million people in the U.S. and causes inflammation of the eyelids, burning, redness, eye fatigue and blurry vision.
Sophia discovered through research that it’s even more prevalent in menopausal women as eye health-regulating hormones fluctuate.”Hmmmm. Interesting,” Sophia mused, as castor oil repeatedly popped up as a natural treatment for dry eyes. She had already heard of caster oil’s ability to relieve constipation, and she occasionally massaged it into her abdomen to promote healthy liver function.
How castor oil helps with dry eyes
As she continued researching, Sophia’s hope was restored as she learned more about this ancient Egyptian remedy, valued for thousands of years for its medicinal properties. Rich in ricinoleic acid, a moisturizing fatty acid, castor oil (derived from the castor bean plant) helps relieve dry eye and related pain and inflammation. It’s added to many beauty products for its soothing, calming and moisturizing effects.
Scientists also believe castor oil combats inflammation-causing oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals and combating cellular damage that leads to swelling and inflammation. This makes it beneficial for relieving arthritis, dry eye and muscle pain and soothing skin sensitivity.
How Sophia uses castor oil for dry eyes
“It’s worth a try,” she decided, “What could it possibly hurt?”. Sophia found that organic, cold-pressed, extra virgin and hexane-free castor oil in a glass bottle is the purest. She purchased a 16-oz. bottle of J Mac Botanicals on Amazon for $21 and applied a small amount to her eyelids with a clean finger a few nights a week. Thrilled when she felt her symptoms ease almost immediately, Sophia started using the oil every night before bed after cleansing her face and removing any eye makeup. She’d sometimes also apply it in the morning if she didn’t have to wear makeup or be on a Zoom meeting.
Although it was thick when she applied it, by morning, most of the oil was fully absorbed, and she wiped away any excess before going about her day. Sophia was pleased to find that stronger, fuller lashes were an unexpected added beauty bonus. The 16-oz bottle lasted her about six months, and her eyes no longer felt tired, dry and swollen.
Today, Sophia still uses castor oil every night to keep her dry eyes at bay and is thrilled to have found a natural, affordable remedy. Dry eye no longer hinders her daily life or interrupts her workday. “Castor oil has done wonders for my dry eyes. It’s easy, natural and safe,” she beams. “It provides relief and will be part of my nightly routine for years to come.”
3 more natural remedies for dry eye
While castor oil worked wonders to relieve Sophia’s dry eyes, other home fixes can help, too. Here are three study-back remedies:
Breathe this way
Just three minutes of “belly breathing” boosts tear production by 48 percent by calming the nervous system. This regulates tears, say Japanese scientists. To do: Inhale through your nose for four seconds as your belly rises. Then, exhale for six seconds as your belly falls. Repeat for three minutes.
Savor a morning scramble
Research shows omega-3 fatty acids reduce Inflammation in the tear glands and improve the quality of the oil they secrete. This helps prevent tear evaporation. To get the benefits, start your morning with a salmon and egg scramble. It’s packed with three servings of omega-3-rich fish to nix dry eye during the day.
Give your yes a ‘spa break’
Steep chamomile tea bags in hot water, then place the warm, wet bags on your eyelids. Doing so for five minutes will cut dry eye symptoms by 80 percent, research suggests Amina I. Mallk, MD, explains, *Heat placed on the eyelids helps liquefy hardened oil within the meibomian glands along the rim of the eye.”
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